was overseas. he wanted to be in the united states to do it. now, the name that he is use, cordoba house he explains in his "new york times" op-ed, it was inspired by the city in spain where muslims, christians and jews coexisted in the middle ages during a period of great cultural enrichment created by muslims. and, of course, there is nothing in this entire discussion that is free of controversy, even that statement is challenged by some people to say things weren't as good in cordoba, spain in the 1500s and 1400s, as this imam would have you believe. but you're going to hear it from him, himself, tonight on "larry king live." soledad o'brien will be interviewing him for the first time on television tonight. deborah feyerick, as well, has been following this story with great detail. if we want to know more about who this man is, how and why he got to the center of this controversy, you can hear it best from deborah. listen to this. >> reporter: you have never heard him speak. this is what imam abdul rauf has to say. >> the major theme in islam is the oneness of god. and that we should wor